Ninth Straight Victory for the Eagles: Navigating Success Amid Passing Struggles
In an edge-of-the-seat contest, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched a hard-fought victory against the Carolina Panthers, closing with a score of 22-16. This triumph marks the Eagles' ninth consecutive win, underscoring their tenacity and skill on the field, albeit with certain aspects of their game still inviting scrutiny.
The game was a showcase for the Eagles' formidable ground attack as they amassed an impressive 209 rushing yards. However, the same cannot be said for their aerial endeavors. Despite securing the win, the Eagles managed only a paltry 83 net passing yards, a figure that raised eyebrows given the Panthers' notably generous pass defense, which ranks 24th in pass yardage allowed and 27th in net yards per pass attempt.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts faced challenges in the passing department, managing to throw for 108 yards at an average of 5.1 yards per attempt. "Passing. What we did today is not good enough. It won't help us," remarked wide receiver A.J. Brown, echoing a sentiment of inadequacy in their passing efforts. Fellow receiver DeVonta Smith also expressed dissatisfaction, stating, "I think we can do a lot better. Pass game we can be a lot better... We didn't play up to our standard."
Although Hurts' passing over the past two games ranks last among quarterbacks with two starts, his overall contribution cannot be overlooked. He has generated five total touchdowns—three through the air and two on the ground—in those games, maintaining a passer rating of 102.7 on 40 passing attempts. Over the team's ongoing winning streak, Hurts' passer rating climbs to 113.7, placing him fourth in the NFL for this metric.
The young quarterback's challenges with longer throws were particularly evident as he completed only two of six attempts on passes traveling more than 10 air yards, resulting in a passer rating of 59.0 for these attempts. Interestingly, during the nine-game winning stretch, his performance with longer throws has been vastly superior, reflected in a passer rating of 126.0.
While on-field performance can always warrant improvement, Hurts offers a pragmatic outlook. "Winning is the main thing," he commented, underscoring the ultimate goal of the sport. However, he acknowledges the need for continued growth, remarking, "It isn't about solving anything. Everybody has a reason to want more. It's a fair desire of being in fullness to where we can be because we've done it before. Just got to build, got to progress. Have to find a way to come together and synch as a unit and play complementary ball."
In the backdrop of their victory, the theme of self-improvement and accountability echoed within the Eagles' camp. Offensive tackle Jordan Mailata emphasized the importance of putting "pride aside and taking coaching," a philosophy that the team appears to adopt wholeheartedly. "That is the form of accountability we harp on a lot. So that's what we have to do... admit your mistake, learn from it, and don't repeat it. And learn from others' mistakes," Mailata stressed.
As the Eagles continue to build on their winning streak, the need for improved synergy, particularly in their passing game, remains evident. With a blend of humility and hunger for improvement, the team forges ahead, aware that while winning is paramount, reaching their peak potential requires addressing these challenges head-on.